Fern was the centre of attention at the event, despite a host of other famous faces including super-toned Olympic cycling champion and pin-up Victoria Pendleton.

But she had more pressing matters at hand than questions about her weight as she presented awards to women who have campaigned for the sake of others.

One of them was Nina Barough, who received the Women of the Year Outstanding Achievement Award for setting up the Walk the Walk cancer charity that has raised more than £43million.

“Nina’s spirit and determination has shown how one very normal woman can do so much,” Fern told her audience, which included fellow TV presenters Lorraine Kelly, Esther Rantzen and Fiona Bruce and Birmingham City football club manager Karren Brady.

“She has created a nationally recognised fundraising event, demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and an impressive ability to make things happen.”

Fern was forced to admit she had had gastric band surgery in June after the news was leaked.

She has taken up cycling, dog walking and swimming after deciding to do something drastic about her health for the sake of her children – twins Jack and Harry, 13, and daughter Gracie, 10, from her first marriage to Carlton TV boss Clive Jones and six-year-old Winnie by her second husband, celebrity chef Phil Vickery.

The number of people having gastric bypass surgery in Britain has risen by 41 per cent to almost 3,500 a year.